Tarana Burke

Founder of the Me Too Movement

2017 TIME Person of the Year: The Silence Breakers

Social Justice Activist

Tarana Burke has dedicated her life to social justice work and giving strength to those who experienced sexual trauma or harassment. Just honored as one of The Silence Breakers named TIME's 2017 Person of the Year, Burke spearheaded the Me Too movement years before it became a viral hashtag as the founder of Just Be Inc., a non-profit that helps victims.

The simple yet courageous #metoo hashtag campaign has generated over 13 million Facebook posts and Tweets, emerging as a rallying cry for people everywhere who have survived sexual assault and sexual harassment. Tarana’s powerful, poignant story as creator of what is now an international movement that supports survivors will move, uplift, and inspire you.

#metoo is not just an overnight hashtag sensation; Tarana has dedicated more than 25 years of her life to social justice and to laying the groundwork for a movement that was initially created to help young women of color who survived sexual abuse and assault. The movement now inspires solidarity, amplifies the voices thousands of victims of sexual abuse, and puts the focus back on survivors.

A sexual assault survivor herself, Tarana is now working under the banner of The ‘me too’ Movement to assist other survivors and those who work to end sexual violence. She is also senior director of programs at Brooklyn-based Girls for Gender Equity. On stage, Tarana provides insight into the current state of affairs and outpouring of sexual assault and harassment allegations, addresses pressing issues of respect, dignity and power dynamics in schools, workplaces and politics, and shines a light on the stories of survivors and voices that continue to be marginalized.

Tarana Burke has dedicated her life to social justice work and giving strength to those who experienced sexual trauma or harassment. Just honored as one of The Silence Breakers named TIME's 2017 Person of the Year, Burke spearheaded the Me Too movement years before it became a viral hashtag as the founder of Just Be Inc., a non-profit that helps victims.

The simple yet courageous #metoo hashtag campaign has generated over 13 million Facebook posts and Tweets, emerging as a rallying cry for people everywhere who have survived sexual assault and sexual harassment. Tarana’s powerful, poignant story as creator of what is now an international movement that supports survivors will move, uplift, and inspire you.

#metoo is not just an overnight hashtag sensation; Tarana has dedicated more than 25 years of her life to social justice and to laying the groundwork for a movement that was initially created to help young women of color who survived sexual abuse and assault. The movement now inspires solidarity, amplifies the voices thousands of victims of sexual abuse, and puts the focus back on survivors.

A sexual assault survivor herself, Tarana is now working under the banner of The ‘me too’ Movement to assist other survivors and those who work to end sexual violence. She is also senior director of programs at Brooklyn-based Girls for Gender Equity. On stage, Tarana provides insight into the current state of affairs and outpouring of sexual assault and harassment allegations, addresses pressing issues of respect, dignity and power dynamics in schools, workplaces and politics, and shines a light on the stories of survivors and voices that continue to be marginalized.

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Tarana Burke is one of The Silence Breakers named Time’s Person of the Year

Tarana Burke is among those recognized as Time’s Person of the Year: The Silence Breakers- the women and men who have publicly spoken out about and taken action against sexual harassment and assault. A lifelong social justice activist, Burke is the founder of the Me Too Movement, having first used the phrase as part of her work building solidarity among survivors years before it became a viral hashtag. A powerful rallying cry that has swept the world—generating over 13 million Facebook posts and Tweets—Me Too amplifies the voice of thousands of victims of sexual abuse and inspires solidarity, healing, and social change. As the inspiration of the movement and a sexual assault survivor herself, Burke has been sought-out for interviews on CBS News, PBS NewsHour, MTV News, Politico, Democracy Now!, and The Today Show, to shed light on the true origins of the movement, draw attention to survivors and marginalized voices, and reveal where we can go from here.

Tarana Burke shares the heartbreaking story behind the genesis of the viral ‘me too’ movement, and gives strength and healing to those who have experienced sexual trauma or harassment.

The simple yet courageous #metoo hashtag campaign has emerged as a rallying cry for people everywhere who have survived sexual assault and sexual harassment – and Tarana’s powerful, poignant story as creator of what is now an international movement that supports survivors will move, uplift, and inspire you.

#metoo is not just an overnight hashtag sensation; Tarana has dedicated more than 25 years of her life to social justice and to laying the groundwork for a movement that was initially created to help young women of color who survived sexual abuse and assault. The movement now inspires solidarity, amplifies the voices thousands of victims of sexual abuse, and puts the focus back on survivors.

A sexual assault survivor herself, Tarana is now working under the banner of The ‘me too’ Movement to assist other survivors and those who work to end sexual violence. She is also senior director of programs at Brooklyn-based Girls for Gender Equity. On stage, she provides words of empowerment that lift up marginalized voices, enables survivors across all races, genders, or classes to know that they are not alone, and creates a place for comfort and healing to those who have experienced trauma.